January 1, 2008

Happy New Year

New Year wishes to everyone!It's snowing again, here. A glance back at Jan. 1 last year,shows me that we we're in the middle of a very unseasonal heat wave, with temperatures reaching 71 deg. F on New Years Day. Although, winter eventually arrived, we recieved very little snow all year, perhaps less than a foot, total. This December, we are breaking records, or close to breaking it by an inch or so, for the most Snowfall in December. So nature, has a way of balancing things. I love snow, as so do many of the plants which I grow, who will need this deep layer of insulation from the fridged arctic blasts that surely will come in early January- typically, our coldest month. Tomorrow....8 degrees F. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.A lone Goldfinch in winter garb, awaits for room on the the thistle feeders. We now have a permanent population year round of these brilliant yellos birds that my Dad calls 'wild canaries", although, as an ornithologist himself, he actually knows better.

A lovely golded=needles Japanese Spruce which reallu shines brilliant yellow on sunny winter days. Everyone should get a Picea orientalis 'Skylands', if you can find one. Try Gossler Farms in Oregon, or Forest Farm catalog online.